Melanoma/Cutaneous Malignancies Case Review & Education

Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers are some of the fastest growing cancers in the United States. Over 68,000 patients have been diagnosed with melanoma and over 2,000,000 with non-melanoma skin cancer in the past year.

Free case reviews are available for East Bay melanoma and cutaneous malignancy patients. Physicians may refer a patient or patients may self-refer. Case review conferences are conducted for newly diagnosed or recurrent melanoma patients who, in the opinion of their physician or the Medical Director of the Melanoma Program, might benefit from a multi-disciplinary educational case review. At each conference, a panel of specialists examines patients, reviews case histories, pathology slides, laboratory studies, x-rays, relevant CT/MRI scans, and then considers treatment options. The melanoma review panel includes surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, dermatologists, dermatopathologists, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, and psychosocial support with our social worker.

Depending on the nature of the case, patients may have to be present for examination but will not attend the conference that follows. Examinations are conducted in Oakland, one Tuesday of each month, from 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Patients must be scheduled by the Monday preceding a conference.

Patients will not be charged for these services and the Melanoma Center will not deliver any treatments. The goal of this program is to help patients and their current physicians choose among optimal treatments and identify the means of obtaining them.

Medical professionals who wish to be on the email list (call 510-725-2162) will be contacted once each month, describing the cases that will be presented. Information about the date, time, site, parking and other relevant details will be provided in each communication.

Patients can call (510) 725-2162 or send a brief email to jaibalk@comcast.net to determine whether they might benefit from consideration of their case by the review board. Once the case presentations have been established, Mary Dynan, coordinator for the BATI melanoma/cutaneous malignancy program, will follow up with all participants with pertinent details. Mary can be contacted by email at mary4130@att.net or directly at 510-725-2162.

The Bay Area Tumor Institute is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preventing cancer and improving the treatment and care of cancer patients in California’s Alameda and Contra Costa counties.